At a glance
| Factor | Doha | Riyadh |
|---|---|---|
| Average international school fees (secondary) | QAR 30,000 to 90,000 (USD 8,200 to 24,700) for premium British, American or IB | SAR 50,000 to 150,000 (USD 13,300 to 40,000) for premium IB, British or American |
| Dominant curricula | British, IB, American, Indian (CBSE), French | American, IB, British, Saudi National (KSA) |
| Cost of living (Numbeo, May 2026) | See narrative below for index detail | See narrative below for index detail |
| Family visa | Employment residency permit with spouse and child sponsorship | Iqama employment residency with family dependants, Premium Residency for senior hires |
| Expat share of population | Roughly 88 percent of Qatar's residents are expatriates | About 38 percent of Riyadh's residents are foreign nationals |
| Typical relocation timeline | 3 to 6 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks |
Doha and Riyadh both deliver world-class IB and British pathways. The deciding factors are climate, cost of living, visa, and which curriculum your family wants to commit to for the next five to ten years.
Schools landscape side by side
Doha's international school market is led by Doha College, ACS Doha International School, Qatar Academy Doha (a member of Qatar Foundation), Park House English School, Compass International School Doha, DESS. See the Doha schools hub for the full landscape.
Riyadh's market is led by King Faisal School in the Diplomatic Quarter, British International School Riyadh (BISR), American International School Riyadh (AIS-R), Multinational School Riyadh, Riyadh Schools. See the Riyadh schools hub for the full landscape.
Not sure which city fits your family?
Take the 5 minute school finder quiz, then run the cost calculator for both cities. You get shortlisted schools plus a side by side relocation budget in under ten minutes.
Fees and value for money
Doha fees in 2026: Premium British and IB names run QAR 55,000 to 90,000 per year, with mid-tier American and Indian options at QAR 30,000 to 55,000. Add QAR 4,000 to 8,000 for transport and QAR 1,000 to 1,800 for uniform. See the fees explorer for distribution across year groups.
Riyadh fees in 2026: King Faisal School runs SAR 95,000 to 150,000 by year group, AIS-R and BISR sit at SAR 90,000 to 130,000, and mid-tier IB and Cambridge options at SAR 50,000 to 80,000. A capital fee of SAR 10,000 to 20,000 is common in year one. Doha and Riyadh are within 5 to 10 percent of each other; Riyadh runs slightly cheaper on rent in compound villas while Doha is marginally cheaper on groceries. Corporate-funded families rarely feel the difference; self-funded families absolutely do, especially through the IB Diploma years.
Curriculum availability
Doha offers British, IB, American, Indian (CBSE), French. Riyadh offers American, IB, British, Saudi National (KSA). The IB Diploma remains the safest portable credential in either city for university entry to the US, UK, Canada, Australia and continental Europe. See the IB hub for cross-city analysis.
Neighbourhoods families pick
In Doha families cluster in The Pearl-Qatar for waterfront apartments close to Doha College, West Bay Lagoon for villas and ACS shuttles, Lusail's marina district for the newer projects, Al Waab and Education City for Qatar Academy, Onaiza for embassy-belt living. A four-bedroom villa in West Bay Lagoon or Al Waab runs QAR 16,000 to QAR 26,000 per month, with The Pearl apartments at QAR 11,000 to QAR 22,000.
In Riyadh families pick The Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) for embassy-belt families and King Faisal School, Hittin and Al Yasmin for newer villa compounds, Al Olaya for high-rise apartment living, Al Nakheel for Saudi-international mix, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) for younger executives. A four-bedroom compound villa in DQ or Hittin runs SAR 14,000 to SAR 28,000 per month, with central Olaya apartments at SAR 9,000 to SAR 16,000.
Lifestyle and climate
Doha climate: Hot desert: 13 to 24 degrees from December to February, 32 to 43 in peak summer. Outdoor sport thrives between October and April. Tax-free pay, the Corniche, Souq Waqif, Education City museums, weekend dune trips and short hops to Oman and the Subcontinent.
Riyadh climate: Hot desert continental: 8 to 22 degrees in winter, 30 to 44 in summer, very dry year round. Tax-free pay, the new Diriyah cultural district, weekend trips to AlUla and the Red Sea, Boulevard City entertainment, fast-growing concert and sport scene under Vision 2030.
Verdict: who picks which city
Choose Doha if you want a more mature international-school market, the Doha College and ACS premium, easier weekend travel via Hamad and a smaller, calmer urban footprint.
Choose Riyadh if you want the fastest-growing Gulf story under Vision 2030, the King Faisal School and AIS-R premium and senior-hire compensation packages that increasingly outrun Doha's. Both cities deliver tax-free pay and rapid family visa processing. Most families we work with model both options through the cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Doha or Riyadh cheaper for international school families in 2026?
Doha and Riyadh are within 5 to 10 percent of each other; Riyadh runs slightly cheaper on rent in compound villas while Doha is marginally cheaper on groceries. On schools, Doha sits at QAR 30,000 to 90,000 (USD 8,200 to 24,700) and Riyadh at SAR 50,000 to 150,000 (USD 13,300 to 40,000). The right comparison depends on whether your package is corporate-funded or self-funded.
Which city has stronger international schools?
Doha flagships include Doha College. Riyadh flagships include King Faisal School in the Diplomatic Quarter. Both cities deliver strong IB Diploma pathways; choice between them turns more on curriculum mix and neighbourhood logistics than on quality at the top end.
Is the family visa easier in Doha or Riyadh?
Doha typically uses the Employment residency permit with spouse and child sponsorship pathway, with relocation in 3 to 6 weeks. Riyadh uses the Iqama employment residency with family dependants, Premium Residency for senior hires pathway, in 4 to 8 weeks. Both are well-trodden routes for relocating families.
How does the climate compare for families?
Doha: Hot desert: 13 to 24 degrees from December to February, 32 to 43 in peak summer. Outdoor sport thrives between October and April. Riyadh: Hot desert continental: 8 to 22 degrees in winter, 30 to 44 in summer, very dry year round. The climate difference is one of the most underestimated factors in long-stay family decisions.
Where do most expat families live in each city?
In Doha families cluster in The Pearl-Qatar for waterfront apartments close to Doha College and other expat-heavy districts. In Riyadh the picks are The Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) for embassy-belt families and King Faisal School and similar school-proximity neighbourhoods.
